thompson



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. L. THOMPSON.

TIGHTENER AND FASTENER FOR FENGE WIRES.

No. 395,525. Patented Jan. 1, 1889.

iUniiTnn STaTns PATENT @rrrcn. A

ADELBER'I. L. lllOi\.l.PSON, ()F EAST AVON, Nl llY YORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,525, dated January1, 1889.

Application filed September 20, 1888. Serial No. 285,897. (No model.)

To a whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADELBERT L. THOMP- SON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at East Avon, in the county of Livingston and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTighteners and Fasteners for Fence-fires, and for other like purposes;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates more particularly to an apparatus for tighteningwires when used for making fences, or when used for making trellises invineyards, or for other like purposes.

It is a well-known fact that wire fences, trellises, &c., are more orless subject to expansion and contraction by the elements, which in*ariably results in leavin the fence in a loose and hangingcondition,andthat the weight of fruit upon. the grape-vines frequently causes thewires of trellises to sag and loosen, so as to huddle and crowd thefruit, to its great detriment.

The object of my invention is to obviate these difficulties, for by theuse of my invention the wires on a fence or trellis can. be loosened inthe fall. and tightened again in the spring by a few moments labor, thusavoiding all breaking of wires and all lmfiscningof posts bythecoi'ltraction and expansion of the wires, and the wires on lrellises canbe tightened while loaded with vines and fruit without injury to either.

This invention is an improvement upon the tightcner and fast en erpatented by me under patent dated April '1 7, A. l). i899, and numbered381,295.

I will now roeccd to describe my invention, reference being bad to theannexed drawings.

Like lellers represent like [suits in all the f of the same. 3 is areduced section taken on the line .70 a; of Fig. 2,

showing the front I plate of the tightener. i is a similar l viewshowing the tightener turned, drawing l the wire to its proper tension.Pig. 5 illushates my improved tightener when used in. the middle of afence, showing the wire passing through it. Fig. (5 shows a wire fenceto which my ii'nproved tightencr is applied.

a represents a feuce-p0st to which my improved tightcner is fastened.(See Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6.) b is the washer; b, the top extension of thewasher for carrying the pawl; Z9 a side extension of the washer; If, anyorifice in said extension of washer in which to fasten the end of awire. a shows loose staples; c, tight staples. d is the sprocket orratchet wheel of the tightener; c, the pawl; f, a pin passing throughthe pawl; 91, the front plate; g, an extension of the hub or shaft h forreceiving a key or wrench; h, the center hub 01: shaft; h, a transverseorifice in the center hub; 2', a pin or stud; j, the wire; Ir, a bolt,andl a nut.

This improvement over my invention covered by Patent No 381,295, datedApril 17, 1888, consists in using a double pawl, 6, (so that thetightencr can be worked from either direction) instead of a single pawl,as in said patent; also, in formin a side extension or projection, b (onone or both sides of the washer 1),) in which the hole or orifice b isplaced. The orifice b is for the purpose of holding a wire running fromthe tightener to the end post to relieve the bolt 71'; from the strain.The tighteuers are placed upon the second post from the end of the fencefor that purpose.

It also consists in in akin the transverse hole or orifice through thecenter hub or shaft, 7!. This hole or orifice through the hub or centershaft:- is for the purpose of fastening the wire through it, asrepresented in Fig. 2, when the tightener is placed near the end of thefence or trellis. The stud or pin 4 is retained, so that when it isdesired to use the tightencr in the center of a fence or trellis thewire can be pl aeed under this pin, and thus tightened from bothdirectioi'is by turning the hub with the key or wrench, as set forth in.the aforementioned patent. The sprocket or ratchet wheel d has also beenchanged so that it will. engage the pawl from either direction.

The head of the bolt 1; is cast solidly into the back of the center hub,72 and made intel gral with it. Figs. 2 and 5 represent the head.

of said bolt so fastened. There is also a hollow pin or stud, I), caston the back of the washer Z) and integral with it, through which the pinj, that holds the pawl ein place, passes and is riveted. This pin isabout half an inch in diameter and about the same in length, and fitsinto a hole made in the post for that purpose, its use being to keep thewasher from turning when the pawl c engages the ratchet d. Itis shown inFigs. 2 and 5.

The operation of my invention isas follows: In Fig. 0 I have shown afive-wi re Fence having a tightener for each wire secured to the secondpost from the end. A wire is then eurely twisted and fastened into theorifice of the side extension or projection, b and the other end drawntaut and secure] y fastened to the end post, (1. The fence-wire to betightened is then twisted and securely fastened into the hole or orificeh in the center hub or hollow shaft, 71. The pawl c is then placed sothat it will engage the sprocket or ratchet wheel (Z onv whichever sideit is desired. The wire is then run along the posts through loosestaples c and securely fastened to the post at the other end of thefence. Then. on turning the center hub or hollow shaft, 72, with the keyor wrench the wire is drawn to the desired tension, and is held firmlyby the pawl e engaging the sprocket or ratchet wheel (I.

\Vhat I claim as my invention and improvement, and for which I desire tosecure Letters Patent, is

A wire-tightener consisting of a double ratchet-plate, (Z, a centralhub, 71, provided with a transverse orifice, h, a front plate, g, aprojecting square end, g, and a bolt, is, all integral with each otherin combination with washer I), having projections b and b (projection 11being provided with a perforation, UL) and with double pawl 0, carriedby projection b, all substantially as shown.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ADEL KERT ll. THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

ROBERT Graven, JACOB D EGAN.

